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Boulder's Shortest St. Patrick's Day Parade celebrates Irish heritage

City's eclectic parade spans just two city blocks

By Alex Burness, For the Daily Camera

Posted:
03/10/2013 03:56:45 PM MDT

Jesse Bacardi, 11, looks at the world with Irish eyes, as he prepares for the parade.
The annual World's Shortest St Patrick's Day Parade was held outside of Conor O' Neill's in Boulder on Sunday.
(CLIFF GRASSMICK)

A segment of downtown Boulder turned green for all of 28 minutes Sunday at the 35th annual World's Shortest St. Patrick's Day Parade.

The procession kicked off at noon and spanned just two blocks between Walnut and Spruce streets before turning around for a second pass.

It was held the week before St. Patrick's Day as not to interfere with Denver's much larger, longer parade next weekend.

"The Denver parade goes on for hours, but I think they do this parade early to get everyone in the mood for St. Patrick's Day," said Elizabeth Van Noy, 28, of the Irish dancing team Celtic Steps. "I think it's brilliant. We should celebrate all month."

Conor O'Neill's Traditional Irish Pub, 1922 13th St., hosted the brief spectacle for the 13th straight year. The parade attracted hundreds of onlookers, and managed to squeeze in a variety of acts, from the traditional to the downright bizarre.

The Patty O'Furniture Drill Team, a crowd favorite and parade staple, performed a dance routine using lawn chairs as props, while belting out "We Will Shamrock You," an Irish-tinged rendition of Queen's "We Will Rock You."

"We pulled out a lot of classics this year," said team leader Mike Cutter, 43. "We're all about camaraderie and drilling, and doing whatever we can to make lawn chairs look good."

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Many Americans associate the holiday with nothing more than alcohol and green attire, but parade announcer Buz Dabkowski said Sunday's parade was about more than drinking.

"It's a wonderful celebration of Irish heritage," said Dabkowski, 61, who has announced the event for more than 20 years. "It's fun, it's exciting, and it gives you a good idea of what St. Patrick's Day is all about."

While the parade's step-dancing troops and bagpipe bands provided the day's authentic Irish flavor, they were joined by decidedly untraditional performers, including green-clad unicyclists and tandem bikers towing boom boxes that blared Irish punk rock.

After the parade, Conor O'Neill's kept the parade spirit going with Irish dancing and bagpipers.

Event coordinator Mary Rios was pleased with the turnout.

"It's great that everybody wants to be a part of it. The kids that used to come two decades ago are now adults that bring their kids," she said. "But we have to keep the parade short, because we've got to get in and start drinking some Guinness."

Lanie Dupee is one of the bright faces of the McTeggart Irish Dance group.
The annual World's Shortest St Patrick's Day Parade was held outside of Conor O' Neill's in Boulder on Sunday.
(CLIFF GRASSMICK)

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